Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-10-22
Is 1T A REACTION !
- LABOR " CANDIDATES NOT
WELL SUPPORTED.
Religion and Politics Don't Mix.
IllusOry Promises Of a Sanguine
Paper - Something More
Than Commercial Ad
ycrtising Needed.

1herc have been apparently nslg-
nliicant Incidents in the social poll
tlcal movement during the last few
days that may be worthy the consld-
Grafton given to "straws that show
which way the wind blows" and the
startling question-st startling to the
enthusiastic newcomers into the la
Dor movements up for an answer:
Is reaction imminent?
The result of the mayoralty cleo
ton in Newark, N. j., where the
Rev. Hugh 0. Pentecost was the
candidate OF the Labor Party, was
anything but reassuring. At the
previous election about six thousand
votes were cast for the Labor candi-
date who had not a tithe of the no.
torlcty or newspaper popularity that
was accorded Pentecost. And yet
pentccost only received 1000 votes
in round numbers, ,86l, to be pre-
else. The question in this case is,
Why did the workingmen of Newark
reject the, at least nominal, Labor
candidate? His name had been be-
fore the public for a year or so, and
he was made much of rs one of the
pillars of the George party; he was
advertised well. Henry Georges pa
per was scattered like "leaves in
Vallambrosa" among the people of
the hopeful city. Here are a few
choice bits from an editorial in the
issue of the Sth inst, of that san
guine paper:
"The nomination of the Rev. Hugh
o. Pentecost for mayor of Newark is a
sign of the times. IL illustrates with
what amazing rapidity men are learning
that politics and religion so far from
being disconnected or antagonistic are
really capable of working together side
by side toward the same great end.
"Mr. Pentocost can be elected. AL
ready he is assured of the support of men
and organizations whom no condidacy
could have brought into political har-
mony. Let every man who be-
lieves in the fatherhood Of God and the
broth"-etc., etc.
The workingmen of Newark, how
ever, seem to think that politics and
religion don't mix well. Nor have
they verified Georges sanguine insin-
uation that Pentccost's candidacy
had brought together "men and or
carnations" to an enormous extent,
to support him. AS to the faith
erhood of God, ETC., the Newark
folks don't seem to think these at
tractive trimmings to a land-tax
scheme represent tangible argu-
ments. But what became of the six
thousand labor votes of the previous
election? The democratic" candi-
date was reelected. This certainly
looks like reaction, unless the work
ingmen were of the opinion that
Pentecost represented nothing more
valuable than the old parties.
In indianapolis the mayoralty can
didate of the Union Labor Party re-
ceived only l,400 votes, and yet
indianapolis has had considerable ex-
perience in the matter of labor Or
CARNATIONS.
There is one thing that may as
well be taken to heart by the work.
ingmen of this country, and that is,
the political labor movement to be a
success must have a solid basis of
class solidarity, cemented by com
mon recognition of class interests.
1t is useless to ilatter the people with
pretty phrases and to endeavor to
catch their votes by such specious
methods as are adopted by our COM
mercialists to sell shoddy goods.
1t may be unpopular to tell un-
pleasant truths, but intelligent men
will not be sWerved from the path of
duty, nor will courageous labor re
formers be discouraged, by the truth
fearlessly told. On the contrary,
tbosa who yonld render nr,ntical